George Born, professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has been recognized for his career achievement by the American Astronautical Society, the premier American scientific and technical group dedicated to the advancement of space science and exploration
Professor Born received the Dirk Brouwer Award, which honors significant technical contributions to space flight mechanics and astrodynamics, at the organization's national conference and 45th annual meeting, held Nov. 17-19, in Houston.
Born's career in the space sciences spans more than 30 years and has included many significant achievements and honors, including the NASA Public Service Medal awarded in 1994 for his key role in planning the joint TOPEX/Poseidon oceanographic radar altimeter mission with France.
Born has played a pivotal role in NASA's satellite geophysics programs, including SEASAT, TOPEX/Poseidon and the Navy's GEOSAT program, since joining the University of Colorado in 1985.
Prior to that, his work with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology and the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center included navigational research for the Apollo, Mariner and Viking missions.
He also supervised the group responsible for the SEASAT project's geophysical data processing system. The group was awarded the NASA Group Achievement Award for its accomplishments, and Professor Born was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Award.